Hollywood has its share of mysteries, but the recent loss of Jeff Baena, beloved screenwriter and director, is no puzzle. The County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner officially confirmed the cause of his passing, and though we often expect drama from Hollywood, this was heartbreakingly real.
Jeff, best known as Aubrey Plaza’s husband (or as we like to call him, Mr. Plaza), tragically passed away on Friday, January 3. While the entertainment world gasped collectively, a new report dropped the definitive details: Jeff’s cause of death was ruled as suicide, with Deadline confirming he “took his life by hanging.”
The scene unfolded in true L.A. fashion—his assistant, likely just arriving to discuss the finer points of the latest script draft or replenish an oat milk latte supply, found Jeff at his home. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Now, let’s pause for a moment. Jeff wasn’t just “Aubrey Plaza’s husband.” This was a man who navigated Hollywood’s chaos since 2011, keeping his romance with everyone’s favorite deadpan queen impressively under the radar. They were like the Sasquatch of Hollywood couples: rarely seen, often speculated about, and somehow more fascinating for their mystery. The pair was last spotted together this past summer, probably doing something effortlessly cool like making avant-garde salads or filming each other staring into the void.
As we reflect on Jeff’s life and work, we encourage everyone to hug their loved ones extra tight today. Life in Hollywood isn’t all glitz and glamour—sometimes, it’s a mix of heartbreak and humanity.
To Jeff: Rest in peace. May your scripts continue to inspire, and may your knack for staying out of the spotlight teach us all the value of a little mystery in this oversharing age.
